There’s really only so much that you can learn about a completely new and redesigned car when your only real experience with it is in the controlled environment of a manufacturer sponsored press launch. These events are the best way to find out all of the stats, technical info and pick the brains of the engineers and designers who spent years working on this one automotive project. But only by living with this new model for a week can you be sure to find out how it performs in the real world that buyers of these cars live in.

Now all of that is all that should be expected from an automaker as auto journalists at press launches only get initial impressions out there via test drive routes that are mapped out by automakers in advance. Rumor has it that it isn’t unheard of for these test roads to be specially chosen to mask certain, shall we say, known deficiencies?

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James Hamel

I am a full time auto journalist, road tester, reviewer and am passionate about the informative and I think fun to read articles that I write. I love helping people be in love with the car they buy for as long as they own it. I have road tested over 600 vehicles and will reply to anyone who wants advice. Twitter @jameshamelcaroc and email is jims455@aol.com.

James Hamel — Driven to Make you Happy

I am a full time auto journalist, road tester, reviewer and am passionate about the informative and I think fun to read articles that I write. I love helping people be in love with the car they buy for as long as they own it. I have road tested over 600 vehicles and will reply to anyone who wants advice. Twitter @jameshamelcaroc and email is jims455@aol.com.